Thifault



G. THlFAULT 3,076,372

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Feb. 5, 1963 Filed Jan. 12, 1961 h s: J a lvE a Fly Gerard Til/FAULT PATENT AGEA/T nite The present invention relates to a musical instrument of the general class of the tambourine, for producing rhythmical sounds or noises in a new manner for the accompaniment of a new type of dance.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a musical instrument of the character described which is capable of producing two different sets of rhythmical sounds, one set of sounds being a series of a quick succession of sharp noises, while the other set of sounds being produced by cymbal elements so arranged as to make two beats quickly succeeding each other.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an instrument of the character described which is relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture and which can be easily played by musicians accustomed to play conventional percussion instruments.

The foregoing and oh er important objects of the pres ent invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the instrument of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view in which the top wall has been cut or? to show the inside elements;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan section taken through line 3-3 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section of a modification;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken along line 5-5 of FEGURE 2;

FIGURE. 6 is a partial cross-section taken along line 6-5 of FIGURE 5; and

PEGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of a cymbal element.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, the instrument of the invention comprises a closed rectangular box made of corrugated sheet metal and in which are disposed cymbal elements which are actuated by a lever projecting from the box to thereby produce the main set of rhythmical sounds. The other set of sounds is produced by slidin a hard object such as a iece of metal on the corrugations of the box.

The box it is completely closed comprising a top 2, side walls 3 a bottom Wall 4. At least the top 2 will be made of corrugated sheet metal. A reinforcing band is disposed within the center portion of the box and is applied against the top, bottom and longitudinal side walls. A handle 6 is secured to the box l and projccts laterally therefrom being preferably directly secured inside the box to band 5. Thus, the box can be held in one hand by handle tr.

Alternateiy, the box can be provided with a support or pedestal 7 secured to the bottom 5 of the box at the com ter thereof, as shown in FlG-URE 4, in which case handle 6 is no longer used and can be dispensed with.

A transversely extending rod or shaft 8 is secured inside the box to the lateral legs 5' of the band 5 and is parallel to the top 2.

A first plate 9 of generally curved contour with a straight edge 9 is disposed within the box 1 and is provided near edge with downward ears it} having holes it? for the passage oi rod 8 whereby plate 9 is pivoted on rod 8 near its transverse edge 9'.

A curved actuating lever it is riveted or otherwise setate tent ice cured to the top or plate 9 and passes freely through an aperture 12 made in the top 2 to extend over said top in spaced relationship therewith. A plurality of cymbal elements 13 are loosely mounted on plate 9; said cymbal elements may consist for instance of a flanged disc "14 (see FIGURE 6 for a cross-section thereof) loose.y connected to sheet metal pieces 15 by connection rod 16 passing through plate 9 and having a head 17 at one end and provided with a riveted washer 18 at the other end. Disc 14 is disposed on top of the plate while pieces 15 are disposed underneath the same. Obviously other types of cymbal elements may be provided for mountiu" on plate 9.

It will be understood that upon a quick depression of the portion of lever l3. disposed above top 2, plate 9 will pivot upwardly in a sudden movement to thereby cause the cymbal elements 13 to produce a sound or noise.

A second plate li having curved contour and a straight transverse edge 1? is hung from the first plate it in cantilever fashion and extends opposite the said first plate 9 within box It. The outer free portion of said second plate 39 is provided with cymbal elements 5.3 similar to those just described in relation with first plate 9.

The second plate 19 is suspended from the first plate 9 through the intermediary of connecting rods 2c passing through the two plates and provided at their outer ends with riveted washers 21. A pair of opposed flanged discs 14, identical with flanged discs 1d of the cymbal elements 13, are disposed between the second plate and the lower washer 21. The connecting rods 20 form a loose connection for the second plate on the first plate and the inner transverse edge 19' of the second plate abuts against the underface fi of the first plate 9. Thus, the two plates can pivot upwardly with respect to each other but relative downward pivotal movement is limited to the rest position shown in FEGURE 5. In this position lever 21 abuts against the inner edge of slot 12.

A piece 22 of corrugated sheet metal bent into a U or any other hard element can be used for riding the sam on the corrugated top 2.

The instrument of the present invention is used as fol lows:

The box 1 is held in one hand by handle 6 while piece 22 is held in the other hand. The piece 22. is slid along the corrugated top 2 to produce a quick succession of sharp noises and then the hand is turned and the lever 11 is quickly depressed by the back of the hand so as to produce a first beat made by the cymbal elements 13 mounted on the first plate E in turn quickly succeeded by a second eat made by the cymbal elements mounted on the two plates. The plate 1? pivots downwardly when its inner edge '19 is released by the already upwardly moving first plate 9 and the second beat is produced when edge 19 strikes plate Q during downward return movement of the latter.

The entire instrument can be shakened by handle 6 to thereby produce a more or less continuous sound made by the cymbal elements without the beat characteristic produced when lever 11 is quickly depressed.

When the box it is mounted on pedestal 7, then the two hands are free to operate lever lit and the striker piece 22.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What i claim is:

1. A musical instrument for producing rhythmical sounds comprising a box having a top, side walls, and a bottom wall, a first plate disposed within said box and pivotally mounted therein adjacent an edge or said first plate, a lever rigidly secured to said first plate and exaovaeaa tending away from said plate and through a slot in the top of said box and above said top, whereby depression of said lever Will cause pivotal movement of said first plate within said box, cymbal elements loosely mounted on said first plate to produce a sound upon pivotal move ment' or said first plate, a second plate loosely suspended from-said first plate near an edge of said second plate and extending away therefrom so as to pivot relative to said first plate, and cymbal elements loosely mounted on said secondplate.

2. An instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the top of said box is made of corrugated material to provide a series of closely spaced transverse corrugations and a hard piece adapted to be slid along said corrugations to produce sounds 3. An instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said said second plate is suspended from said first plate by connecting rods-passing through said two plates, said edge 4 of said second plate abutting against the underside of said first plate and said lever abutting against an edge of said slot in the rest position of said two plates.

4. An instrument as claimed in claim 1, further in- 5 eluding a laterally outwardly projecting handle secured to said box for holding said box.

5. An instrument as claimed in claim 1, further in: cluding a pedestal on top of which said box is mounted.

References (iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,020,717 Schlesinger Mar. 19, 1912.v 1,333,565 Newlin M21129, 199.0 2,287,183 Lively June 23', 1942, 2,472,408 Di Angelo lune],v 1949 2,837,002 Susser June 3', 1958 

1. A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FOR PRODUCING RHYTHMICAL SOUNDS COMPRISING A BOX HAVING A TOP, SIDE WALLS, AND A BOTTOM WALL, A FIRST PLATE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BOX AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREIN ADJACENT AN EDGE OF SAID FIRST PLATE, A LEVER RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID FIRST PLATE AND EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID PLATE AND THROUGH A SLOT IN THE TOP OF SAID BOX AND ABOVE SAID TOP, WHEREBY DEPRESSION OF SAID LEVER WILL CAUSE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST PLATE WITHIN SAID BOX, CYMBAL ELEMENTS LOOSELY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST PLATE TO PRODUCE A SOUND UPON PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST PLATE, A SECOND PLATE LOOSELY SUSPENDED FROM SAID FIRST PLATE NEAR AN EDGE OF SAID SECOND PLATE AND EXTENDING AWAY THEREFROM SO AS TO PIVOT RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST PLATE, AND CYMBAL ELEMENTS LOOSELY MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND PLATE. 